What Time Works Best for You?

Some people rise early in the morning, ready and eager to start the day, while others hit the snooze button over and over, barely opening before they’ve downed that first cup of coffee. Some people eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at the same time every single day, while others nibble and snack throughout the day, rarely sitting down to a meal. Some people hit the gym at 6 a.m., and others prefer to work out after work. All of these routines—and more—are regulated by the body’s internal clock.

Personal preferences guided by the body’s internal clock, also known as the biological clock or circadian rhythm, can be grouped into categories called chronotypes. Early birds prefer mornings; night owls prefer evenings/late night; hummingbirds prefer in-between times; and, according to Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., a fourth chronotype is classified as a difficult, or restless sleeper.

Identifying your individual chronotype and following a compatible schedule as much as possible in your daily life can have a tremendous impact on your happiness and well-being, according to Dr. Breus. When it comes to health, your internal body clock determines just about everything—from when you’re best able to fight an illness, to the best time to take your medicine or get your flu shot.